Plush toy with interchangeable features

ABSTRACT

A plush toy having an interchangeable face or head portion is provided. In one example, a toy includes a body portion and a head portion, the head portion having a first or default face, coupled to the body portion. The head portion further includes a hood or flap portion having an inner surface with a second or alternate face and an outer surface, where the hood portion is coupled to the head portion and configured to transition from a first position on a back side of the head portion (where the second face is hidden) to a second position covering the first face and exposing the second face. In one example, the body portion is further coupled to a left arm portion, a right arm portion, a left leg portion, and a right leg portion.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/384,555, entitled, “PLUSH TOY WITH INTERCHANGEABLE FEATURES,” filed on Sep. 7, 2016, and which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to toys, and more particularly, to a plush toy having a hood or flap portion to facilitate a change in appearance of the plush toy.

2. Related Art

Plush toys resembling animals and other creatures are popular among today's youth. Such well-known toys are commonly referred to as a “stuffed animal” or “teddy bear.” While these toys remain popular, added toy functionality can enhance user interaction by allowing the user to manipulate the toys. For example, allowing a user to change the appearance of the toy enhances the imagination of the user by adding a customizable element to the interaction. Such customizations provide added depth to the toy and thus increase the toy's value.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a plush toy with the capability of shifting the toy's appearance from a first or default appearance to second or an alternate appearance. Although some toys provide for a certain change in appearance, there is a need to facilitate the shift in appearance with minimal use of material and effort. The present invention thus provides a seamless mechanism for efficiently transforming the appearance of a toy.

SUMMARY

According to one example of the present application, a plush toy having an interchangeable face or head portion is provided. In one example, a toy includes a body portion and a head portion coupled to the body portion, wherein the head portion comprises a first or default face. The head portion further includes a hood or flap portion having an inner surface comprising a second or alternate face and an outer surface, where the hood portion is coupled to the head portion and configured to transition from a first position on a back side of the head portion (where the second face is hidden) to a second position covering the first face and exposing the second face. In one example, the body portion is further coupled to a left arm portion, a right arm portion, a left leg portion, and a right leg portion.

The toy may include a stuffed animal, e.g., a bear, rabbit, and so on, human forms, fictional characters, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a frontal view of an exemplary plush toy before and after its face has been changed by a hood or flap portion.

FIG. 2 illustrates a frontal view showing different stages in the change in appearance of the plush toy.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view showing different stages in the change in appearance of the plush toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the various embodiments. Descriptions of specific systems, devices, methods, and applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Thus, the various embodiments are not intended to be limited to the examples described herein and shown, but are to be accorded the scope consistent with the claims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a frontal view of an exemplary plush toy, here a stuffed toy bear, comprising a head portion and a body portion, before and after its face has been flipped. In some embodiments, the body portion is coupled to a left arm portion, a right arm portion, a left leg portion, and a right leg portion. FIG. 2 illustrates a frontal view of the toy undergoing a change in appearance. For example, as shown in stage 1, the toy bear may include a body portion which may be coupled to both a left arm portion and a right arm portion. Body portion may be further coupled to a left leg portion and a right leg portion. Body portion may have an upper section coupled to a head portion, and may further have a lower rear section coupled to a tail portion. Toy bear may be filled with a soft material such as cotton, plastic pellets, wool, or beans. Left leg portion and right leg portion may be further coupled to left foot portion and right foot portion, wherein left foot portion and right foot portion may each include a bottom portion. Each portion of the toy bear may include a plurality of colors, for example, brown, beige, white, or black.

In one embodiment, head portion may be coupled to a hood portion. Head portion may take the shape of an approximate sphere including a face having features similar or analogous to that of a bear (or other animal, character, etc.). Head portion may include, for example, eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Hood portion may be coupled to head portion near the lower or upper rear-side of head portion (in the instance example, the hood portion is coupled near the lower rear and side of the head portion). Hood portion may be shaped as a cloth flap, and may further be comprised of wool, cotton, or a similar soft material as other portions of head portion. In one embodiment, hood portion is comprised of a substantially elastic material so it at least partially stretches over the head. In one example, hood portion is not stuffed, or at least partially stuffed, such that the when it covers the first face, the structure of the first face, including the nose or snout, supports the second face shape (e.g., the first face nose or other facial features align and support the second face facial features). In one embodiment, the hood portion may contain a cape or a scarf, which is displayed when the hood portion covers the first face. Hood portion may further include an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface may, for example, resemble the back-side portion of the head of a bear. The inner surface may, for example, resemble an alternate face having features recognizable as those of a “zombie” bear. For example, inner surface of hood portion may include eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, wherein at least one of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears resemble those of “zombie” eyes, nose, mouth, or ears, respectively. Of course, the “zombie” features are exemplary and the second or alternative face may include various other schemes, including a sleeping face, angry face, sad face, smiling face, a different animal or character face, and so on.

Together, head portion and hood portion may be configured to resemble two different arrangements. In one embodiment, a typical arrangement resembles a face having features similar or analogous to that of a normal bear. For example, a typical arrangement may appear as “Teddy Bear” in FIG. 1. In another embodiment, an alternate arrangement resembles a face having features recognizably different than that of the typical arrangement. For example, alternate arrangement may appear as “Zombie Bear” in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, at stage 1, while the hood portion is in a resting position, toy bear may resemble the typical arrangement. In order to facilitate a change between the typical arrangement and the alternate arrangement, a user of toy bear may, for example, pull hood portion forward from a resting position to a transitional position. At stages 2 through 8, for example, the toy bear may be in a transitional position. While the hood portion is in a transitional position, the hood portion may be positioned substantially above the head portion, for example, in stage 5. While hood portion is in the transitional position, the toy bear may resemble a transitional arrangement. From the transitional position, the user may, for example, pull hood portion from transitional position to a covered position. In one embodiment, the covered position results in the alternate face of the inner surface substantially overlapping the face of the head portion. For example, stage 9 may resemble the alternate arrangement. Therefore, once the user has pulled hood portion from transitional position to covered position, the bear may resemble the alternate arrangement.

In another embodiment, hood portion may be situated in the covered position, and toy bear may resemble the alternate arrangement. In order to facilitate a change between the alternate arrangement and the typical arrangement, a user of the toy bear may, for example, pull hood portion backward from the covered position to the transitional position. While the hood portion is in the transitional position, the hood portion may be positioned substantially above the head portion, and the bear may resemble the transitional arrangement. From the transitional position, the user may, for example, pull hood portion backward from the transitional position to the resting position. Once the user has pulled hood portion backward from the transitional position to the resting position, the bear may resemble the typical arrangement.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an exemplary toy bear undergoing a change in appearance. At stage 1, the toy bear resembles a face having features similar or analogous to that of a normal bear. At stage 2, a user may begin to pull hood portion from the resting position. At stage 3, the user may pull hood portion over head portion so that hood portion begins to fold or wrap over head portion. For example, hood portion may fit substantially tight over head portion so that hood portion slides over head portion as the user pulls the hood portion from the resting position. At stages 4 and 5, the user pulls hood portion further over head portion so that the top of head portion becomes covered by hood portion as hood portion folds over head portion. At stage 6, the user pulls hood portion further over head portion so that the facial features of head portion begin to become covered by hood portion. For example, facial features of the inner surface of hood portion may begin to become apparent as hood portion folds over the facial features of head portion. At stage 7, the user completes pulling hood portion from the resting position to the covered position. Once hood portion is in the covered position, change in appearance of toy bear is complete. For example, at stage 7, head portion may resemble the alternate arrangement having features recognizable as those of a “zombie” bear.

While specific components, configurations, features, and functions are provided above, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that other variations may be used. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with a particular example, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described examples may be combined. Moreover, aspects described in connection with an example may stand alone.

Although embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the various examples as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A customizable toy, comprising: a body portion; a head portion coupled to the body portion, wherein the head portion comprises a first face; a hood portion having an inner surface comprising a second face and an outer surface, the hood portion coupled to the head portion, wherein the hood portion is configured to transition from a first position on a back side of the head portion to a second position covering the first face, and wherein in the first position, the inner surface having the second face is hidden adjacent the back side of the head and in the second position the second face is exposed.
 2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the transition from the first position to the second position covers the first face with the outer surface of the hood portion and exposes the inner surface and second face.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the hood portion resembles the back-side of the head portion.
 4. The toy of claim 1, wherein the toy comprises a plush toy.
 5. The toy of claim 1, wherein the hood portion is coupled to the head portion on an opposite side of the head portion as the first face.
 6. The toy of claim 1, wherein the hood portion is coupled to lower portion of the back side of the head portion.
 7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the hood portion comprises a stretchable material.
 8. The toy of claim 1, wherein the hood portion is sized to fit over the head portion.
 9. The toy of claim 1, wherein the hood portion comprises a cape in the first position and the cape is visible when the hood portion is in its second position.
 10. A customizable toy, comprising: a body portion coupled to a left arm portion, a right arm portion, a left leg portion, and a right leg portion; a head portion coupled to a top section of the body portion, wherein the head portion comprises a first face; a hood portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the hood portion coupled to a rear-side of the head portion, the hood portion configured to transition from a resting position to a covered position; and wherein the transition from the resting position to the covered position alters a facial appearance of the toy, the transition including covering the first face with the inner surface of the hood portion.
 11. The toy of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the hood portion comprises the second face.
 12. The toy of claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the hood portion resembles the back-side of the head portion.
 13. The toy of claim 10, wherein the toy comprises a plush toy.
 14. The toy of claim 10, wherein the hood portion is coupled to the head portion on an opposite side of the head portion as the first face.
 15. The toy of claim 10, wherein the hood portion is coupled to lower portion of the back side of the head portion.
 16. The toy of claim 10, wherein the hood portion comprises a stretchable material.
 17. The toy of claim 10, wherein the hood portion is sized to fit over the head portion.
 18. The toy of claim 10, wherein the hood portion comprises a cape in the first position and the cape is visible when the hood portion is in its second position. 